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December 10, 2006

Boras Tries To Scare Sox FO, Fans

Negotiations between the Red Sox and Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka have essentially broken down, a source familiar with the talks said late last night, adding that unless there is an abrupt change of course, Matsuzaka will not be signing with the Red Sox before Thursday's midnight deadline. ...

Long accustomed to negotiating with "multiple teams" in order to garnish rich contracts for his extensive client list, Boras has chafed from the beginning about the inequities of this system and has hinted repeatedly that the process will end either in Matsuzaka signing with the Red Sox or with Matsuzaka declining and having to go back to Japan.

(Well, those are the only two options, aren't they?)

From the standpoint of both the Red Sox and Masuzaka (on whose behalf Boras is working), there is absoutely no reason to think a deal will not get done.

Boras's only leverage is time. He wants the Red Sox to think he can convince Matsuzaka to go back to Japan. I don't see that happening. It would mean DM defers his dream of pitching in the big leagues for two years (thus risking an injury and no mega-payday down the line). The decision would anger Seibu, the team to which he would return (they lose out on $51.1 million), and would not look good to their fans (to whom DM gave a farewell speech).

At some point on Wednesday evening, Masuska will tell Boras: "Alright, that's enough, now get this deal done." The Red Sox will likely increase their offer to $10/year or so (shouldn't DM get Gil Meche money?) and everyone will be smiling during the press conference on Thursday.

With Hideki Okajima in the Sox bullpen and Matsuzaka likely to join the rotation, Curt Schilling is learningsomeJapanese.

17 comments:

I'm not surprised by this, but appalled nevertheless: None of the Boston media appears to have invested any resources in cultivating contacts in Japan for information from over there. Even though everyone knew that with Boras, the deal will probably go the full 30 days.

1. Does Dice-K have a bilingual advisor giving him feedback about the debate over here? I'd hate to have Dice-K arrive in LA and only hear the Red Sox offer as spun by Scott Boras.

2. What's the mood at corporate Seibu? Are they convinced that MLB owners are indeed insane and that maybe they can sit out this year, repost next year, and still get mega-bucks/yen? I'm not sure a second posting of this nature is allowed, but I'd like to see it nailed down.

A few facts from the Japanese side rather than mindless ethnic stereotypes about honour and face would be nice.

Otherwise, not worried (is there an emoticon for whistling past the graveyard)?

Could there be a clearer win-win for the Sox? Play hardball with Boras. He's got an ethical duty to do what's in his client's best interest, and sticking him in Japan at comparably low wages with a pissed-off team and a chance of getting injured or having a year that reduces his value is certainly not that. The Sox get a potentially great starter if he signs, and 51 million if he doesn't!What a deal!Gee, would the strapped Devil Rays sell Scott Kazmir for 50 million bucks?? Would the desperate Nationals sell Cordero for 20 million? And Jon Lester would suddenly have a slot as 5th starter!Would the Sox take a rotation of Schilling, Becket, Papelbon, Wake and Lester plus 51 mil to plug some holes? I sure would. Eat me, Scott Boras.

I'd let Boras represent me or anyone in my family ... why wouldn't you? He consistently gets the best deals for his clients.

I say the Sox offer Matsuzaka the Gil Meche deal, plus incentives based on starts and wins and awards and post-season performance (even team based if that's what it takes). Offer 5 years/ 55 mil, with another $10-15 mil in possible incentives.

If Boras is willing to walk away from that, let him. Then take the $51 mil posting fee and the $11 mil you were offering and see what that buys, either this off-season or next off-season.

Nope, Boras is scum. He does not represent his clients' best interests unless all they care about is money, not the city, not the team, not winning, not their families. If he was ethical he would have refused to represent Carlos Beltran when he was a free agent and wanted the job of another Boras client who wanted to keep it, Bernie Williams. That's a textbook conflict of interest for Boras, a zero sum game between two clinets. And if he makes Dice play another year in Japan because he wants to maximize his own fee, he's screwing him too. An agent is supposed to find the best fit for his client, not just the most money. Dice has said he wants to play in the US right now, and he has no leverage under the system of his own league. Boras' job is to make a deal with the Red Sox, and if he fails, he's failed his client becuaes of his own greed.

Jack, Boras is scum? That's a little harsh.Dice hasn't played out yet so let's not crucify him for that one yet..Greed ??? It's not about the money with anymore I think hea has enough .it's about reputation and credibility...which I guess you can interpret as ego..

Jere, my son and not me? I think I might have missed my prime.....

And I think his clients do have say .I think he wanted Tek to get more than he did.....but Tek might have stepped in........

If Boras hasn't told Matsuzaka about the Sox offer(s), then that's a scummy thing to do, but look at his track record - he gets huge deals for his players. That's his job. To get the best financial offers he can on the table for his players to make up their mind - it's up to the player to decide which offer they want to take, but if Boras didn't explore every option he wouldn't be doing his job.

Now, if he's not accurately representing Boston's offers to his client, if he is, indeed, using Matsuzaka to bust apart the posting system, then he's not serving the best interests of his client.